"Why are there so many weirdos at the pier today? Is Halloween early?"
Hartlepool Pier.
Forrest, a sailor who had just gotten off a cargo ship to rest at home, looked puzzledly at the group of people near the small pier.
They were dressed in black robes and wore terrifying metal masks, the kind usually only worn by children on Halloween, and were discussing something next to some small boats.
"Who cares? Probably some club hosting another strange party. You know how they are, always using these methods to attract attention and raise funds."
"Alright, hope they don't cause any trouble and disrupt the pier work tomorrow."
The group of oddities causing the Muggles' discussion were, of course, old Nott and his crew. Fully prepared, they were formally launching their prison break operation to Azkaban at dusk today.
No one had chosen to avoid this operation. The moment Voldemort appeared before them, no one doubted the possibility of their resurgence.
Given that, what they needed to do now was strive to gain greater leverage and benefits for their future selves.
The Azkaban prison break was the best pledge to demonstrate their true loyalty to Voldemort.
Furthermore, with the combined efforts of so many pure-blood families, no one believed this mission could fail. The purpose of the so-called impregnable prison's existence was to be broken open from the outside by them today!
"The real thing guiding wizards to Azkaban isn't this boat, but the lantern on the boat! If you don't want to abandon your broomsticks, then take the lantern from the boat and hang it on the broom handle. Others just need to follow the broom with the lantern to break through that mist and reach Azkaban Island."
The one who came here specifically to command and explain the precautions was an Auror on active duty.
The reason this Auror chose to help old Nott and the others was simple.
His surname was Selwyn.
He was a wizard from a typical pure-blood family.
Following his instructions, the Death Eaters took the lanterns from the small boats and attached them to their broomsticks. Then, old Nott checked his pocket watch and finally cast a look of disgust around at the ignorant Muggles staring at them.
"Drive them away, put on the Invisibility Cloaks, prepare to move."
Beside him, Goyle and Crabbe raised their wands and cast the Muggle-Repelling Charm.
As the charm took effect, the surrounding Muggles all suddenly remembered urgent matters they had to attend to, and quickly left the pier.
Even if Muggles passed by the roadside near the pier, they acted as if they couldn't see the Death Eaters, paying them no further attention.
Led by old Nott, everyone pulled out Invisibility Cloaks.
These low-quality cloaks made from Disillusionment Charms weren't particularly valuable items, especially for the people gathered here. Once the cloaks were on, they mounted their brooms and rose into the air!
These Invisibility Cloaks couldn't completely hide their figures. Up close, one could still clearly see the distorted humanoid outlines in the air.
But once night fell, this minor flaw would cease to exist.
When the sun was halfway below the horizon, old Nott and the others set off for the North Sea. After more than two hours of travel, they entered the grey haze that Muggles could never sail into.
The lanterns began to function then, emitting a bright yellow light that guided old Nott's group along the correct direction. It took them about half an hour to pass through this misty area, finally revealing the prison island that made every British wizard pale at its mention.
Even from the sky, they could vaguely see the black-robed creatures prowling the island.
Dementors.
Fear-inducing and despair-bringing dark creatures!
"Let me remind you one last time, none of us can cast a Patronus Charm. So, if we want to break someone out of Azkaban, we can only rely on speed!"
"See that castle? The prison is there. The people we're looking for are all in the dungeons of that castle. Before coming, you should have all seen the prison's specific layout and map."
"So our plan is simple: ride the broomsticks, charge into the castle dungeons, open the cell doors before the Dementors react, throw down the extra broomsticks we're carrying, and then ascend and escape!"
"If anyone gets caught by a Dementor, don't expect others to rescue you. Use the Memory Charm on yourself as quickly as possible to erase everything about the prison break. Then, when you see the Aurors, claim you were under the Imperius Curse and were forced to do this. Others will find a way to help you avoid blame!"
Someone laughed.
"We are the first to publicly announce Master's return, right? Let's start with some fireworks."
Over a dozen people raised their wands.
The next moment, a massive Dark Mark, seemingly covering the entire sky, suddenly blazed in the night sky!
The Death Eaters in iron masks lowered their broomsticks and dove towards the Azkaban island below, heading straight for the castle on the island.
Such an undisguised commotion naturally attracted the attention of the Dementors on the island. But by the time these creatures reacted, the Death Eaters at the forefront had already charged into the prison!
These coddled pure-blood wizards did possess some superior skills. Not having to worry about livelihood gave them more time to study hobbies that ordinary people might consider a waste of time.
Such as broom racing.
And now, this hobby proved immensely beneficial.
After the Death Eaters bypassed the swarming Dementors on the island and charged into the castle, they quickly found the passage to the dungeons based on the map memorized beforehand, broke through the door, and rushed into the dungeons.
The Dementors followed closely behind like an unshakable tail. However, in less than five minutes, old Nott and the others successfully reached the lowest dungeon of the prison.
Those imprisoned here were all the vicious, unrepentant Death Eaters captured by Aurors eight years ago!
The Death Eaters at the bottom of the dungeon had also heard the commotion. When they saw the black-robed, iron-masked figures riding broomsticks burst in, the previously deathly silent space erupted into a frenzy of cheers and maniacal laughter!